Low-temperature microwave-powered plasma reduction system and methodology

Abstract

A system and a method are described for directly reducing non-ultrafine ore using a non-thermal plasma by a system for directly reducing non-ultrafine ore using a non-thermal plasma. The system includes: a non-ultrafine ore source; a power source driving a microwave antenna providing a high intensity electrical field for generating a non-thermal plasma; a gas source configured to supply hydrogen; and a cold plasma jet providing non-thermal hydrogen plasma. The method includes: providing, via the cold plasma jet, a non-thermal plasma to a reaction chamber; providing, via a feed, non-ultrafine ore to the reaction chamber; and obtaining a reduced ore from the reaction chamber. The reduced ore is obtained by application of the non-thermal hydrogen plasma to the non-ultrafine ore for at least multiple seconds to allow for generation of fractures in particles of the non-ultrafine ore.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.